Monday 4 January 2016

NDM News Story 31: Facebook ditches Flash video in latest blow to maligned plugin

http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2015/dec/21/facebook-ditches-flash-video-html5

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Facebook has now changed from using Flash to using HTML5 for their videos. With this change, videos have improved the video experience for Facebook users as there are less problems that arise which make users ore likely to spend time uploading, watching and sharing videos on Facebook. Other than for some Facebook games that still require it, Flash is hardly used in Facebook anymore. As well as Facebook, You Tube has also changed to HTML5 and any other remaining Flash users, are slowly migrating to HTML5, leaving Flash to shrink fast. 

  • Following YouTube’s switch to HTML5 video, Facebook’s dumping of Flash for its 8bn video views a day means that the majority of web video watched is now Flash-free.
  • Daniel Baulig, engineer at Facebook, said: “Not only did launching the HTML5 video player make development easier, but it also improved the video experience for people on Facebook. Videos now start playing faster.
  • Adobe is moving away from Flash. 
Making such a decision was essential for Facebook as the social networking site would need to do all they can to retain their audience. Although Facebook isn't in danger of dying out any time soon, however, with new SNS such as Instagram and snapchat, rapidly gaining popularity, by changing the quality of their videos is a step in the right direction to retain their audience.

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